"Year 2000 AD. A massive meteorite fell on Antarctica. Caused all Antarctic glaciers to melt. Sea level rose instantly. Earth's magnetic field severely affected."
"Global ecosystems changed due to the Antarctic continent's disappearance. In this catastrophe, thousands of species went extinct. Simultaneously, half of humanity died."
"This is the Second Impact."
In the classroom, a gray-haired history teacher explained this world's history. Students below had laptops on their desks for class. Some listened attentively. Most mentally elsewhere.
According to this teacher—a meteorite from space destroyed the Antarctic continent. This catastrophic event called the Second Impact. The First Impact presumably the meteorite that caused dinosaur extinction?
Shinji Ikari contemplated seriously in class.
Then heard the teacher continue: "Our original Tokyo was submerged by tsunami. Afterward, the government established Tokyo-2 in the former Matsumoto City as our new capital."
"After Tokyo-2's completion, the government undertook building an even safer and sturdier fortress—Tokyo-3 where we are now. A city expected to replace Tokyo-2 as capital..."
The information this teacher spoke was all government-released public news.
But as EVA Unit-01's pilot, Shinji knew—things were far from this simple.
"Second Impact..."
"Tokyo-3..."
Shinji took out a notebook. Wrote and drew on paper. Marked key points and his thoughts.
When Natsuki-san woke tonight, he'd definitely need this information.
The Second Impact caused Antarctica's disappearance. Countless species extinct. Absolutely not caused by a meteorite. Behind it must be inside information he didn't know.
And Tokyo-3—though superficially said to be the capital expected to replace Tokyo-2—its actual purpose was to intercept Angels.
After discovering Angel monsters' existence, citizens who'd originally come to Tokyo-3 for safety gradually evacuated.
"Publicly released news really is all fabricated..." Shinji realized this.
But relying only on the history teacher's words and his own speculation—hard to deduce the real inside story.
Thinking this, he turned his head toward the window. Looked at Rei Ayanami listening attentively.
'Would she know more information?' He thought this.
Last night he'd tried asking Misato-san about EVA and NERV. But didn't get much useful intelligence. Didn't know if Misato-san deliberately concealed it or truly didn't know.
Now he prepared to ask Rei Ayanami for more information.
But while he observed Rei Ayanami, another gaze also observed him.
"After that giant robot appeared, immediately transferred to our class."
"Everyone else scrambling to leave here. But he's different..."
Kensuke Aida with chestnut hair and round-frame glasses looked at Shinji Ikari. Thoughtful.
"Hey, Kensuke, who do you think that robot's pilot is?" Toji Suzuhara with darker skin wearing a black jacket leaned over from the other side. Quietly asked him.
Yesterday these two had secretly left the shelter and watched the entire battle.
In this boring history class, many students chattered about various things. The most frequent discussion topic—yesterday's giant monster and robot.
"Pilot?"
"Who knows."
"Information about that robot is probably classified. Ordinary people like us definitely can't figure it out by guessing." Kensuke Aida contemplated. Answered.
"Though I do have a suspect now."
Speaking, he looked toward Shinji Ikari still listening attentively.
Toji Suzuhara saw his action. Also understood he was speculating this transfer student was that robot's pilot.
"Him?"
"How's that possible?" Toji Suzuhara didn't quite believe it. That clearly was something the government secretly developed. How could they let an ordinary student pilot it?
Should at least be those tall, mighty types who clearly had military training.
This Shinji Ikari classmate looked thin and weak. Even thinking with your butt, impossible to be the pilot.
"Just intuition." Kensuke Aida pushed his glasses. Said mysteriously.
"By the way, how's your sister's situation?" He remembered Toji's sister got injured in the previous battle's aftermath.
"She's okay." Toji crossed his arms. "Just got scratched by something that fell during tremors in the shelter. Minor skin injury."
"Speaking of which, really fortunate."
"Without that giant robot, we'd probably all have been eaten by that monster." He said with lingering fear.
Internally very grateful to that robot's pilot.
"Yeah, I thought I was dead for sure then." Another female classmate behind joined in.
Experiencing facing despair at this age—made their mindsets change somewhat. Also generated gratitude toward that robot.
"Kensuke, if you think he's the pilot, just ask him directly." This female classmate said to Kensuke Aida.
"Are you stupid?"
"Even if he really is the pilot, how could he possibly admit it?" Kensuke Aida said helplessly.
How could you directly ask that question?
"But he replied though." The female classmate suddenly said.
Just now, she'd sent Shinji Ikari a message via computer. Directly asked if he was the pilot.
Then received an affirmative answer. YES.
"He... he admitted it."
"How's that possible!?"
"Ikari-kun is that robot's pilot!?" Kensuke Aida immediately exclaimed in surprise. Pointed at Shinji Ikari and shouted.
These two sentences immediately caused classroom uproar.
"What!?"
"Ikari-kun!?"
"Eh!?"
A large batch of classmates directly stood from their chairs. Hurriedly observed this seemingly ordinary transfer student.
The elderly teacher still immersed in his own story. Currently telling stories from his youth. Didn't much care about classroom chaos.
The class president wanted to organize discipline. But couldn't withstand this news being too explosive.
"Ikari-kun, please give me an autograph!"
"Please!"
"Ah..." Shinji Ikari looked up. Saw a large group of surrounding classmates. Froze.
After joining NERV, no one introduced this organization's inside information. Just told him to pilot Unit-01 and fight. Really didn't tell him relevant information.
Originally, Misato Katsuragi would remind him before school today. Unfortunately, she had business at base early this morning.
Led to him not knowing if his identity counted as classified.
So he didn't take it too seriously. After all, he'd still fight Angels in the future. He'd already decided to protect others. No need to conceal these things.
Didn't expect classmates to be this enthusiastic.
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